The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-04-07
BLAINE AT ST LOUIS.

aud party, consisting OF Mrs. Blaine, Mass
Blaine, Miss Dodge, who has made herself
famous under the nom de plume of Gail
Hamilton, the cousin Of Mrs. Blaine, and
MIR. Stephen B. Elkins, arrived in the city
last night and were met at the
Union depot by a citizens ooua-
mittee, who escorted them TO car
riages in which they were driven TO the
Lindell Hotel. Crowds surrounded his
quarters at the hotel and he was given a
warm welcome. He, in response TO an in
vitation from the committee appointed for
the purpose, stated that he would not
enter into political speech, but accepted
the invitation and delivered the following
at the Merchants Exchange this afternoon
to large and enthusiastic audience:
Mr.. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN oP THE
CHAMBER oP COMMERCE: 1 can well say
that it is equally a surprise and a graf
ification TO myself TO be here at this To-
mont 1 arrived in your beautiful city
last evening, and may say that was not
only hOnored with an invitation, but
served with a notice to be here at this
time. Applause And having long
been under good discipline, l re-
sponded. But as a Maine man,
ara sure feel at home in Missouri, for
old Colonel Benton had a happy remark
which he always addressed to Main e men.
that Maine came into the Union on the
back Of Missouri, or Missouri came into
the Union on the back OF Maine, h. didn't
know which, but they both got in tOgeth-
er. Applause. And so we have had a
strong bond of sympathy because Of our
twin birth as States in the Federal Union.
was In this city long before the vast
~ a of hn I hor
the honor TO address. saw st. Louis for
the first time very nearly forty years ago.
1 was but boy, but found that in tray
cling boy has larger eyes than:a.. man OF
mature years; and at that time in the
course Of a few days ramble l knew
every street and alley, and pretty much
every steamboa that landed at your
wharf. But though / have a somewhat
retentiye memory, l must say am now
lost in the maze Of this magnificent en-
porium, and tho little city OF 40,Go1 which
then found on the banks OF tho Missis-
sippi Is altogether unrecognizab!e to-day.
Therefore, although l have il the inter
val been hero some three or four times,
may claim myself to be a stran ger to the
great and magnificent proportions which
your city has since assumed lido not know
myself, and could not recognize as
started out upon your streets this morn
ing, the old landmarks which were once
familiar to me. Your growtA, gentlemen,
as the growth Of the Republic. Cheers.
In a peculiar sense your growth is the
growth OF the trans Mississippi Republic;
a republic which is far greater one a
far grander one, a far richer one than the
Federal Union when Missouri became
member of it And it is in that great re-
giOn hitherto and as yet scarcely de-
velopcd-it is in that great region
that this city Is 10 have its i'm
perial growth and its enormous de-
velopment With twenty thousand
miles of river by which you are connected
with steam navigation, with forty thou
sand miles of railway in the old territory
of Louisiana, which did not have one SOL
itary mile when l was first in this city
with all these vast agencies of transporta-
ton, what may not be expected of this
place! You have that which, as a Repre-
sentative in Congress, / was long since
made familiar with-you have that jeal-
Gus, that wItchful care of your access to
the sea for which the original Territory of
Louisiana was purchased under the ad-
minlstraJiOn Of Jefferson.
1t was to give this Western country ac-
aCSS " TIC OfBCu OCCdllS VI OAlC "OElI ILS&O
the Mississippi was desired as an Ameri-
can river; and the people of st. Louis do
well, and the people of st. Louis do wisely
to jealouslY guard that great outlet to the
waters Of the world. Il sud cheersl. But,
gentlemen, with all the congratu atoms
which feel it in my heart to extend to
you, with al the compliments which your
immense growth calls from every lip, l
feel that / have one reproach against st.
Louis. [Sensationl. 1 feel that have
one reproach against this great trans
Mississippi department A little over
eighty years ago it belonged to foreign
power, and by the narrOwest possible
chance it was kept from falling into the
hands of England; but the watchful care,
the great nerve and courage, the states
manlike grasp Of Thomas Jefferson,
standing between the policy of
France and tho aggressive energy
OF Great Britain, plucked the whole
territory of Louisiana from the am
bition Of both, and made it into an Ameri-
can State Icheersl; and that vast domain
for which jefferson gave SIS 900, 900 is now
represented in seven great and prosper
Gus States and three large Territories,
which in the course Of time will add four
or FIVE States, possibly, to the Am erican
Union.
Never was a conquest so great, so ex-
tensive, acquired by peaceful methods.
Never was so great conquest made by
war that a conquering power was able to
hold Then, let me say, that my reproach
70 St Louis-my reproach to every foot
and every inhabitant of the territory of
is that on its entire surface,
which represents a third part of the Unit
ed States, there is not statue raised to the
honor ofThomas Jefferson. loud cheers.l
st Louis is the capital, the emporium,
and will be for all time, of that which was
the territory of Louisiana More cheers
will be forgiven, l am sure, for remind
ing you that gratitude to the great man
who has gone, gratitude to that great man
who, in the annals of American
greatness, should stand next to
Washington, 1 will be forgiven, 1 am
sure, when 1 say that the duty of St Louis |
and the duty of the merchants of st. Louis |
is to erect within your beautiful city a |
statue Of him who more than any other |
man by u scratch OF a pen, created an en- |
pire. Load cheers.
Gentlemen, thank you very sincerely |
for your cordial reception. Mr.. President, |
am profoundly indebted for your words |
Of courtesy. l am here simply as your !
guest; and am impressed SO By it that ] |
shall not coTzlmit the offense of trespass- |
ing upon your patience, but with my cor |
1ial wishes for your increased and ever |
increasing prosperity. 1 bid you good /
Enthusiastic and oOatinued |
applause
Ti1IxIish Ground.